Liverpool showcased their dominance on Sunday with a convincing 3-0 win over Nottingham Forest at Anfield, lifting them to 23 points in the Premier League, just three points behind leaders Tottenham Hotspur.

Forest came into the match with a defensive strategy, aiming to strike on the break. While they managed to keep things tight in the opening half-hour, Liverpool soon broke through with a classic counter-attack. Follow your favourite Premier League team with attractive football betting odds from Nextbet. 

Forest’s centre-back Murillo made an ill-fated venture forward, losing possession. Within moments, Mohamed Salah had fed the ball to Darwin Nunez, whose shot was parried, leading to Diogo Jota’s straightforward finish.

Jota’s goal was not only a testament to Liverpool’s on-field prowess but also a heartfelt gesture. He celebrated by holding up the shirt of his absent teammate, Luis Diaz, who was unable to play due to the kidnapping of his parents in Colombia.

Speaking about Diaz, Jota shared, “Luis was with us in the hotel, then he went home. It’s a very hard situation, and I don’t know how anyone would react if it happened to you. He was going to play. I played instead of him and I showed him his shirt to show we’re with him, and we hope everything works out.”

Liverpool’s second goal was a testament to their teamwork. They carved through Forest’s defense, with Dominik Szoboszlai delivering a precise cross for Nunez to slot the ball home.

The Reds picked up the pace early in the second half, with Salah narrowly missing a curling shot, and Harvey Elliott’s attempt getting blocked shortly after his substitution.

A miscommunication between substitute Harry Toffolo and goalkeeper Matt Turner allowed Salah to capitalize, extending Liverpool’s lead as he calmly guided the ball into the net in the 77th minute.

Nottingham Forest struggled to break out of their defensive mindset and only managed a significant shot in the 85th minute, courtesy of winger Anthony Elanga, whose effort ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar.

The loss leaves Forest in 16th place in the Premier League with 10 points, providing them with a five-point cushion above the relegation zone. Meanwhile, Liverpool remains a strong contender at the top of the table, despite facing a challenging day off the pitch due to Diaz’s family situation.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp acknowledged the difficulties they faced in preparation and expressed his support for Diaz, saying, “The preparation was the most difficult I had in my life. Didn’t expect it, couldn’t prepare for it. We try to help ‘Lucho’ (Luis Diaz) as much as we can. I told the boys after the game that the best thing I can say is we played really well, and there’s still so much space for improvement.” 

Liverpool’s performance on the field demonstrated their ability to rise above adversity and maintain their competitive edge in the Premier League. Get the latest updates from the Premier League only on Nextbet Sports.